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The date palm

Phoenix dactylifera

The garden is home to several large specimens of Phoenix dactylifera. Originally from North Africa and Western Asia, its decorative nature has seen it cultivated in numerous warm-climate countries. Some date palms live for over 300 years, growing to heights of up to 30 metres. The largest example at La Concepcion can be found in the “Palm Tree Map of the World” section.

Thought to have first been cultivated over 5,000 years ago, it is also believed to have been the first tree-like plant domesticated by civilized man. A number of Egyptian engravings bear witness to this, giving rise to a wealth of myths and legends surrounding the tree. It is also mentioned several times in holy scriptures such as the Old and New Testaments and the Koran.

Interesting fact: one 7-branched specimen at La Concepcion, the largest of its kind on the Costa del Sol, was rescued from a house that was about to be demolished.